Blue Origin has once again delayed the second launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, citing powerful solar activity as the reason. The solar storms, which have recently illuminated the night sky across North America, pose potential risks to the Mars-bound ESCAPADE spacecraft the company is carrying for NASA.
Just hours before liftoff on Wednesday, Jeff Bezos’ space company announced it was standing down due to the possible effects of the solar activity. A new launch date has not yet been announced.
New Glenn’s maiden launch in January was largely a success, but this mission marks its first time carrying a commercial payload. The company has been cautious, with multiple previous delays already logged.
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The rocket nearly launched last Sunday, but weather concerns, a stray cruise ship in the flight path, and issues with launchpad equipment forced another pause. Blue Origin continues to emphasize safety and reliability as it moves closer to making New Glenn a key player in the commercial space race.
